BURNLEY Council has been given the go-ahead to make a raft of improvement to the Leeds and Liverpool Canal.

An earth retention system and a new canal wall will be built along a 95 metre stretch of the waterway’s south bank near Sandygate.

The work, which forms part of phase three of the ongoing upheaval of the town’s historic Weavers’ Triangle area, will improve ground conditions for future redevelopment.

English Heritage and the Canal and River Trust are both supportive of the work.

A report by the council’s planning officer, Alan Rogan, said: “Work has already commenced because of its urgent nature relating to the operation of the canal.”